Psychic Bids-again!

My club has just taken a big decision. Psychic bids are banned! I know, I know they are allowed by the laws of Bridge. But......we are not members of the English Bridge Union and so are making up our own rules.


The reason is that a minority of players are (we think), using them too often. I say "we think" because we can't really check on it. The EBU seems to think that players should report their own "psyches". They also think the Tournament Director should check to see if the psyche is "fielded". This is not realistic for a TD who, in a small club, is also playing.


So if the TD is called to a suspected psyche we will apply the rule of 19 to opening bids and the rule of 14 to pre-empts at the 2 level and above. If the test is failed the psycher will be penalized. Overcalls must have at least 3 cards overcalled (unless conventional).


So there it is. I will let you know how it works out (from the safety of my nuclear bunker).